Finally so much excitement had been aroused that later in the day fully one hundred men were hastening toward the hills, a few with picks and spades, some with rifles and guns, some mounted, and others on foot.
The trail was plain and easily followed, and as those in the lead entered the mountains they heard the sound of battle. There was a rattle of shots, followed by silence for a moment, and another volley; then a continuous popping of revolvers and rifles.
The cavalcade paused and sent on scouts to investigate. It was evident that the sheriff and his posse had found plenty of business.
After a time the scouts reported that a general engagement was going on, in which it seemed that several small parties were taking part, each for itself. From the top of a bluff just beyond the battlefield could be safely viewed. Hither the crowd rushed, those with mounts going as far as possible on horseback, and then, hitching their animals, clambering up the rocks on foot.
A strange picture was presented. At the furthermost point of the engagement, several men were huddled in the mouth of the lower entrance to the mine slopes. They were shooting from behind rocks and timbers outward at another party among the bowlders, ten rods away.
A third party, which could now be made out as the sheriff and his posse, had taken a hand from a position higher up and commanding an equal rake of both the others.
All were well among the broken granite and in little danger except of getting pinked when poking out a head or hand to get a shot at the other fellows. If any damage had been done the victims had been concealed in the rocks by their friends.
The country was too rough to attempt a charge, and the sheriff’s party, which numbered as many men as the others combined, could not dislodge either of them.
Suddenly the men at the mouth of the slope arose and darted back into the murky interior out of view. The second party seemed to be greatly surprised and disconcerted for a moment, and then turned their whole attention to the sheriff’s posse, popping away as often as a bit of flesh or apparel appeared.
It was amusing to the onlookers to see a man bob up like a Jack-in-a-box in one place and then another, to bang away at the enemy, and then drop out of sight.